Soldier, Surveyor. He was a Captain of a Company of Rangers of Augusta County, Virginia in the French and Indian War. He was a Burgess for Augusta County in 1765 and 1766-1768 and for Botetourt County in 1769-1771. He was County Lieutenant, Sheriff and Surveyor of Fincastle County, Virginia 1772-1776 which included the present State of Kentucky. In 1773 he purchased land at Draper's Meadows in present day Montgomery County, Virginia and established a plantation known as "Smithfield". He was County Lieutenant, Justice, and Surveyor for Montgomery County from 1776 until his death. He served as a Colonel of the Virginia State Militia in the Revolutionary War from Montgomery County. He died while attending a muster of the Montgomery County Militia.
The historical marker in Blacksburg, Virginia pictured at the right reads as follows: "One mile west is "Smithfield", old home of Col. Wm. Preston, who materially guided the destiny of the Virginia frontier from the French and Indian War through the Revolution. On this estate two Virginia Governors were born: James P. Preston, 1816-19; John B. Floyd, 1848-52, the latter was the son of another Virginia Governor, John Floyd, 1830-34, who while in office advocated before the Legislature abolition of slavery in Virginia."
Most of the papers of William Preston were collected by Lyman Draper and are portion of the Draper Manuscripts known as the William Preston Papers. His biography, "William Preston and the Allegheny Patriots" was published by Patricia Givens Johnson in 1976. The inventory of his estate included 273 books. His was one of the largest libraries in Virginia.
Soldier, Surveyor. He was a Captain of a Company of Rangers of Augusta County, Virginia in the French and Indian War. He was a Burgess for Augusta County in 1765 and 1766-1768 and for Botetourt County in 1769-1771. He was County Lieutenant, Sheriff and Surveyor of Fincastle County, Virginia 1772-1776 which included the present State of Kentucky. In 1773 he purchased land at Draper's Meadows in present day Montgomery County, Virginia and established a plantation known as "Smithfield". He was County Lieutenant, Justice, and Surveyor for Montgomery County from 1776 until his death. He served as a Colonel of the Virginia State Militia in the Revolutionary War from Montgomery County. He died while attending a muster of the Montgomery County Militia.
The historical marker in Blacksburg, Virginia pictured at the right reads as follows: "One mile west is "Smithfield", old home of Col. Wm. Preston, who materially guided the destiny of the Virginia frontier from the French and Indian War through the Revolution. On this estate two Virginia Governors were born: James P. Preston, 1816-19; John B. Floyd, 1848-52, the latter was the son of another Virginia Governor, John Floyd, 1830-34, who while in office advocated before the Legislature abolition of slavery in Virginia."
Most of the papers of William Preston were collected by Lyman Draper and are portion of the Draper Manuscripts known as the William Preston Papers. His biography, "William Preston and the Allegheny Patriots" was published by Patricia Givens Johnson in 1976. The inventory of his estate included 273 books. His was one of the largest libraries in Virginia.
Family Members
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Elizabeth Preston Madison
1762–1837
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John Preston
1764–1827
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Elizabeth Preston Davis
1765–1815
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Gen Francis Smith Preston
1765–1835
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Sarah Preston McDowell
1767–1841
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Ann Nancy Preston
1769–1782
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William Preston
1770–1821
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Susanna Preston Hart
1772–1833
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James Patton Preston
1774–1843
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Mary Preston Lewis
1776–1821
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Letitia Preston Floyd
1779–1852
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Maj Thomas Lewis Preston
1781–1812
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Margaret Brown Preston Preston
1784–1843
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